Stories from Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Firefighters respond to suspicious fires(06/27/12)Six separate fires in ditches along roads southeast of Le Mars Wednesday are considered suspicious by local firefighters. The fires were intentionally set, according to Dave Schipper, Le Mars Fire-Rescue Chief. "The first fire was just a little east of the intersection of county roads K-49 and C-38," Schipper said. "We had five more fires basically between K-49 and Noble Avenue."...

City announces temporary street closing Wednesday(06/27/12)The city of Le Mars is notifying the public of a temporary street closing.
Sixth Avenue Southwest, from Eighth Street Southwest to 12th Street Southwest, will be closed from 2-7 p.m. today, according to Steven Hansen, public works superintendent.

LCS's Phase II project nears completion(06/27/12)From the red and black accents in the hallways and rooms to the Bulldog logo on the gymnasium floor, the new addition will be ready to be welcome students in August. Members of the Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education and the LCS Foundation Board took a tour of the nearly completed Phase II construction project at the high school Monday...

Warning siren upgrade will add safety in storms(06/27/12)Le Mars' aging warning sirens will be improved to meet new federal requirements and to add battery backup when the power is out. The city's six warning sirens are placed throughout the community to alert citizens who are outside to go indoors because of nearby tornados or other extreme weather...

Museum to host 'Gym Jam,' patriotic displays(06/27/12)Everything from 1950s music to watermelon and patriotic displays will highlight the Fourth of July next week at the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Activities start early Tuesday, July 3, with a new feature, a dance by The Jammers, who play '50s and '60s music with a touch of the '70s...

Courthouse parking lot nearly complete(06/27/12)The parking lot at the Plymouth County Courthouse could be open to the public as soon as next week. Remaining work includes a re-pour of about 700 square feet of concrete, damaged by rainfall, and painting parking stall lines on the pavement, said Tom Rohe, county engineer...

Patriotic theme set for July Fourth parade(06/27/12)Participants are being sought for a red, white and blue patriotic-themed parade in Le Mars on the Fourth of July. The Plymouth County Veterans Memorial Park Committee, a group of volunteers, is organizing the annual parade to have a patriotic, non-political theme, according to a committee press release...

For the Record June 27, 2012(06/27/12)MARRIAGES Moises Rodriguez, 23, of Le Mars, and Kendra Rae Hoffman, 20, of Le Mars, were married in Le Mars June 9, 2012. Brian Jacob Heidesch, 23, of Le Mars, and Emily Ann Schilmoeller, 21, of Le mars were married in Remsen June 16, 2012. Jeremy Edward Letsche, 24, of Marcus, and Barbara Leeann Starling, 23, of Sioux City, were married in Marcus June 16, 2012...

Le Mars survives Sioux Center scare(06/27/12)LE MARS -- The Lady Bulldogs escaped with a 6-5 victory on a walk-off single by sophomore Madison Heidebrink Tuesday night against Sioux Center. Le Mars Community (24-9) had lost five of the last eight games going into Tuesday's game. The Lady Bulldogs lost the lead two times in the game prior to the final at-bat. Le Mars led 5-4 to begin the seventh, but Sioux Center (13-12) evened the score at 5-5 in the top half of the inning...

Gehlen takes two from Spalding; Timmins throws no-hitter(06/27/12)The Gehlen Catholic softball team picked up two wins in two very different fashions Tuesday against Spalding Catholic in Le Mars. In the first game of the doubleheader, senior Amber Timmins pitched a no-hitter to lead the Lady Jays (19-10) to a 3-0 win...

Spartans spoil Jays' home game(06/27/12)LE MARS -- The Gehlen Catholic baseball team had opportunities to build its lead but failed to do so. Spalding Catholic took advantage. The Spartans scored a run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to defeat the Jays 6-5 on Tuesday. Spalding took the lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but Gehlen responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning...

Blackhawks shock Hawks(06/27/12)HINTON -- Freshman Emily Eaton held a dangerous Hawks' lineup to just two hits to lead the Hinton softball team to a 3-2 win over Remsen St. Mary's on Wednesday in Hinton. The Blackhawks (6-24) struck first with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Ali Kallsen walked and advanced to second on a single by junior Breana Bollmeyer...

Hinton holds on to defeat RSM 5-3(06/27/12)HINTON -- The Hinton Blackhawks extended their winning streak to seven games with a 5-3 victory over Remsen St. Mary's Tuesday. Hinton senior pitcher surrendered two first inning runs to RSM (16-7, 12-6). Hinton (14-9, 9-7) answered with a run in the bottom of the first...

R-U wins eighth straight(06/27/12)REMSEN -- The Remsen-Union softball team won its eighth-straight game with a 5-4, 10-inning win over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn on Tuesday in Remsen. After three scoreless innings, the Hawks got on the board first with two runs in the top of the fourth. The Lady Rockets cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the inning...

Panthers top Hawkeyes(06/27/12)KINGSLEY -- The Kingsley-Pierson baseball team scored early and defeated West Harrison 8-4 on Wednesday in Kingsley. The Panthers (16-7) fell behind when the Hawkeyes scored a run in the top of the first inning. But K-P responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning and two more in the second to take a 6-1 lead...

Bahrke named Northwestern head cross country, track and field coach(06/27/12)ORANGE CITY -- Northwestern College and the Red Raider athletic department have named Scott Bahrke as the new head cross country and track and field coach. Bahrke replaces former coach Nate Wolf, who resigned earlier this month to take the same position at Southwest Minnesota State...

Viki Grzelinski(06/27/12)Viki Grzelinski, 64, longtime resident of Jacksonville, Fla., and a Le Mars native, died Saturday, June 9, 2012. Viki was born in Le Mars, the daughter of the late Emil and Gudrun (Jordahl) Johnson. Viki attended Iowa State University and was employed by CNA Insurance before marrying Thomas Grzelinski...

Henry B. Mulder(06/27/12)Henry Mulder, age 87, of Orange City, died Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Todd De Rooy will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 6-8 p.m., at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City...

Mildred Plueger(06/27/12)Mildred Plueger, 94, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. The Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars is assisting Mildred's family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Christopher and Jordan Paulsen(06/27/12)Jordan Frances Alexandria Frye and Christopher Alan Paulsen, of Merrill, were united in marriage Saturday, June 2, 2012, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Merrill. Jordan is the daughter of Henry McCray of Birmingham, Ala, and Cheron Agnew. Christopher is the son of Denita Paulsen Price of Washta...

Dorn-Dreckman(06/27/12)Ray and Rosanne Dreckman, of Brandon, S.D., and formerly of Le Mars, and Denise Dorn, of Hendricks, Minn., announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their children, Talia Dorn, of Maricopa, Ariz., formerly of Hendricks, and Kyle Dreckman, of Maricopa, formerly of Le Mars...

Harden-Langseth(06/27/12)Ross and Linda Harden, of Le Mars, and Tom and Pam Langseth, of Excelsior, Minn., announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their children, Morgan Harden and Danny Langseth, of Minneapolis, Minn. The couple is planning a July 6, 2012, wedding at Westwood Lutheran Church in St Louis Park, Minn. A dinner and dance at the Lafayette Club, Minnetonka Beach, Minn., will follow the ceremony...

Hot weather hard on pets, plants, people(06/27/12)As if it weren't dry enough already, the forecast is calling for declining precipitation this week and temperatures are expected to be higher than normal. The hot weather has sped development of crops, but the lack of moisture is beginning to take its toll...